Visual Literacy of Infographic Review in Dkv Students’ Works in Bina Nusantara University
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VISUAL LITERACY OF INFOGRAPHIC REVIEW IN DKV STUDENTS’ WORKS IN BINA NUSANTARA UNIVERSITY Suprayitno School of Design New Media Department, Bina Nusantara University Jl. K. H. Syahdan, No. 9, Palmerah, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia [email protected] ABSTRACT This research aimed to provide theoretical benefits for students, practitioners of infographics as the enrichment, especially for Desain Komunikasi Visual (DKV - Visual Communication Design) courses and solve the occurring visual problems. Theories related to infographic problems were used to analyze the examples of the student's infographic work. Moreover, the qualitative method was used for data collection in the form of literature study, observation, and documentation. The results of this research show that in general the students are less precise in the selection and usage of visual literacy elements, and the hierarchy is not good. Thus, it reduces the clarity and effectiveness of the infographic function. This is the urgency of this study about how to formulate a pattern or formula in making a work that is not only good and beautiful but also is smart, creative, and informative. Keywords: visual literacy, infographic elements, Visual Communication Design, DKV INTRODUCTION Desain Komunikasi Visual (DKV - Visual Communication Design) is a term portrayal of the process of media in communicating an idea or delivery of information that can be read or seen. DKV is related to the use of signs, images, symbols, typography, illustrations, and color. Those are all related to the sense of sight. In here, the process of communication can be through the exploration of ideas with the addition of images in the form of photos, diagrams, illustrations, and colors. In addition to the use of the script will affect those who see it. The effect depends on the objective that is conveyed by the messenger and the ability of the recipient to decipher it. Infographic is a visual representation of information, data, and science graphically. The used graphics show complex information that is changed to concise, solid, and clear information. With intricate information, infographic presents it into simpler visual forms such as maps, journalism, technical writing, the process of an event, the flow of tests, and others. This is the most powerful way to represent information so that it can be more easily understood by the audiences. By using good infographics, a designer can easily provide explanations and all the needed information into a more simple language. Currently, infographic exists in all forms of media from static media such as printed media to interactive media such as social media, television, and other media. There are many visual designs displayed. It can be social campaigns about the traffic, culinary, tourist attractions, the identity of residential areas, apartments, hotels, and others. Thus, it is very interesting to review the visual literacy or in other terms, the ability to sort, choose, and apply it in a visual form. The topic of this research focuses on the study of visual literacy and creativity with the diversity and uniqueness. Thus, it is expected to obtain unique and creative findings. Moreover, it is very interesting to study the material of DKV Brand Identity course. Visual Literacy of Infographic Review……(Suprayitno) 51 The researcher will study the visual literacy in the infographic works by DKV Bina Nusantara (BINUS) University students as the enrichment and development of science. Infographic works by DKV students in Binus University will be used as a case study. The various students' works show the diversity in displaying visual ideas and visual communication. Thus, it is interesting to study more deeply the visual literacy and metaphor language as a means of conveying the message. The purpose is to provide theoretical benefits for students and practitioners of infographics as the enrichment. The scope of this research is about visual literacy and creativity in infographic issues. It aims to solve the occurring visual problems. Thus, it can have a positive impact on the creativity of an infographic precisely and effectively. Nowadays, in the era of information, organizations use infographics to deliver information and understanding to internal and external audiences (Mark, 2012). Infographic is a form of data presentation with visual concepts that consists of text with attractive visual illustrations. The process of making infographic is commonly referred to several different terms; it can be data visualization, information design or information architecture and others. Infographic can also be the image that integrates data with design. It helps individuals and organizations to communicate or deliver a message to the audiences concisely. The organization will have an opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap with their audiences by using infographics to communicate the ideas and information (Mark, 2012). In general, the result of an infographic has more images than text. Currently, infographic exists in all forms of media. It is from ordinary print media such as billboard boards, road signs to digital interactive media. Infographic is an image or illustration that can be accompanied by text. Visual data or picture information is the right word to describe infographic briefly. As a visual representation of information, infographic summarizes some data uniquely and universally. If the information is presented monotony, it can make the audiences bored. Boredom keeps the audience out of focus and will not understand the conveyed message from the media. Many things can be done to present the data to be more interesting and eye-catching. One solution is to present it in the infographic. Other than communicating a particular message, the other desired results of the infographic can inform, persuade, educate, or have people take action. The infographic media communication flowchart can be seen in Figure 1. Figure 1 Infographic Media Communication Flowchart (Source: Few, 2011) Infographic is not only displays beautiful visuals alone, but it also contains data, facts, and reality. Tables, lists, charts, diagrams, maps are some of them. For example, if people look at weather forecasts with sun or cloud symbols that are accompanied by numbers, so it indicates temperature. It means people are reading the infographic. For people who live in the modern era, they are very familiar with the information. Often, the conveyed information is too much and complex. For that reason, easy-to-understand forms of visual communication are needed to overcome the complexity of information. One method of compiling interesting information is by designing an effective and efficient infographic. Currently, the infographic is widely used for various purposes such as the 52 HUMANIORA Vol. 9 No. 1 March 2018: 51-59 delivery of concepts and ideas from a study, the concept of design, moral messages in social campaigns, the preparation of reports, annual books, and company profiles. In print media, it can be newspapers or magazines. In addition to descriptive news, the infographic is also presented to clarify the information or to condition the audiences to the actual event. In general, the infographic is divided into two types; informative graphics and visual graphics. Informative graphics describe events, processes, research results, and facts artistically. Moreover, the elements contained in the art are colors, shapes, rhythms, unity, and composition between the placement of infographics and manuscripts. It also attracts the attention of the audiences (Obed, 2006). The goal is to inform, influence, and be persuasive argumentative or recreational for the audiences. There is a definition of data information such as declaring a number, multiplication, showing the time or period or a percentage of each component of information. It is important to show those in the form of statistics or data numbers, and words in the form of display. Each element is not to obscure the shape of the message. However, the readability and clarity of the data are more important. In addition, visualization techniques can be developed much more complex and creative. For example, it can use both manually and computer-generated dimensions. In line with the development of computer technology, the development of diagrams in the form of static begins to change. The visual processing in printed media has evolved into a dynamic diagram, visual processing with motion and sound. The development of moving diagrams is more visible in the application of mobile phone technology. The infographic basics system is widely used as navigation or guidance of a certain amenity or the technology. Moreover, the visual infographic in the dynamic form is categorized into two. The first is the infographic in the offline category that the dynamic form is widely used as the media of film, video, PC program, presentation, and others. The second is in the online category. It is in the form of interactive media such as apps for email, web, Instagram, line, WhatsApp, and others. In the dynamic infographic, many interactive simulations are used both offline and online. This type of infographic is used to show a way, simulation, or guidance that conveys more detailed information. Then, there is the structure and mapping of each subject against other subjects. It is arranged into a layer of each information submitted. In interactive dynamic visual media, infographic becomes a certain way of bridging the complexity of a concept into a hierarchical form. Thus, it is more easily understood, and people know how to use it. Through good infographic, messages by using the right visual literacy can bridge the audiences, so there is no ambiguity in receiving the conveyed message. METHODS The descriptive qualitative research is used. It makes a description systematically, factually and accurately about the facts, properties, and the relationship between the phenomena investigated. The descriptive method aims to obtain accurate data collection to facilitate the process of analysis. The steps are to collect and review various types of infographic works and then conduct comparative studies with infographic works in accordance with good graphic design principles.